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United States Patent |
5,209,440
|
Walker
|
May 11, 1993
|
Hexagonal junction adapter with retaining shoulder
Abstract
A one-piece hexagonal junction adapter for use in a conventional plural
line clamping system that generally comprises two opposed U-shaped
channels having semi-cylindrical collar portions for supporting the
junction adapters and stacking nuts which are disposed between the
channels and help secure and separate adjacent adapters. The axial
thickness of the hexagonal body portion of the junction adapter of the
present invention is substantially equal to the width of or distance
between the opposed interior side walls of the U-shaped channels. The
junction adapter has two retaining shoulder portions, each located between
the body and one of the two cylindrical collar support portions that
engage the semi-cylindrical collar portions of the channels. These
features enable the junction adapter to fit more securely within the
plural line clamping system and provide greater resistance to movement due
to forces resulting from extremely high fluid line pressures.
Inventors:
|
Walker; William R. (Rochester, MI)
|
Assignee:
|
Hydro-Craft, Inc. (Rochester Hills, MI)
|
Appl. No.:
|
733344 |
Filed:
|
July 22, 1991 |
Current U.S. Class: |
248/68.1; 285/61 |
Intern'l Class: |
F16L 003/22 |
Field of Search: |
285/61,137.1
248/68.1
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
2359846 | Oct., 1944 | Hayman.
| |
3254399 | Jun., 1966 | Zahuranec.
| |
3397431 | Aug., 1968 | Walker.
| |
3414220 | Dec., 1968 | Walker.
| |
4363337 | Dec., 1982 | Pease | 285/61.
|
4878696 | Nov., 1989 | Walker.
| |
5098047 | Mar., 1992 | Plumley | 248/68.
|
Other References
Parker Fluid Connectors Catalog No. 4350, Dec. 1984.
|
Primary Examiner: Arola; Dave W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harness, Dickey & Pierce
Claims
I claim:
1. A junction adapter for a plural line clamping assembly of the type
having (1) a plurality of channels each of generally U-shaped
cross-section and each provided with two leg sections and a connecting
section therebetween, said leg sections having interior wall surfaces
separated by a predetermined distance, said leg sections provided with
semi-cylindrical collar portions formed in said leg sections at the
outermost extent thereof, said collar portions each including a
semi-cylindrical surface and a radiused surface extending between the
semi-cylindrical surface and an adjoining interior wall surface, (2)
stacking nut means, disposed between and for separating said channels in a
position such that the U-shapes of said channels face each other and pairs
of semi-cylindrical collar portions oppose each other encompass a
diameter, and (3) bolt means extending through said channel members and
into engagement with said stacking nuts for causing said channel members
to bear against said stacking nut means, said adapter comprising:
a hexagonally-shaped central support portion sized to span said
predetermined distance between said leg sections and to be received snugly
within said channels, whereby said central support portion generally abuts
said leg sections thereof;
two cylindrical collar support portions each formed radially smaller than
said central support portion and each located at an opposite axial side
thereof and sized to span the diameter encompassed by one pair of the
opposed semi-cylindrical collar portions and adapted to be received
therebetween;
two retaining shoulder portions one positioned between the central support
portion and a first of the cylindrical collar support portions and the
other positioned between the central support portion and a second of the
cylindrical collar support portions, said retaining shoulder portions
forming radiused surfaces operable to fit snugly against the radiused
surfaces of a pair of the semi-cylindrical collar portions such that the
adapter is more rigidly secured between the leg sections within the
clamping assembly against movement in an axial direction; and
two connection portions each located at the end of said collar support
portions opposite said central support portion and provided with connector
means to sealingly receive a fluid line connection, and wherein
said central support portion, said collar support portions, and said
connection portions are formed from a single piece of hexagonal bar stock
material, and have a common fluid passage extending therethrough,
whereby, when said junction adapter is installed in said plural line
clamping assembly and said bolt means are tightened into said stacking nut
members, said junction adapter is captured and snugly secured between said
stacking nut means and the radiused surfaces of said channel members to
secure the junction adapter against movement in any direction including an
axial direction.
2. An adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein each said connector means
includes male threads formed on and constituting an integral part of its
respective connection portion.
3. A plural line clamping assembly comprising:
first and second channel members, each said channel member being of
generally U-shaped cross-section and having two leg sections and a
connecting section therebetween, said leg sections having interior walls
separated by a predetermined distance, and each leg section being provided
with semi-cylindrical collar portion formed at the outermost extent
thereof that includes a substantially semi-cylindrical surface and a
radiused surface interconnecting the semi-cylindrical surface to the
interior wall of said leg section, said first and second channel members
being adapted to be aligned and secured to each other in a position
whereby the U-shapes of said channel members face each other and whereby
pairs of semi-cylindrical collar portions oppose each other, with each
such pair defining a diameter;
at least two elongated stacking nut members of a common first length being
disposed generally within the U-shaped channels of said first and second
channel members and extending between said channel members, said stacking
nuts being located on each side of said semi-cylindrical collar portions
of said channel members, and each stacking nut being spaced from the next
adjacent stacking nut by a second length;
a junction adapter being formed with a central support portion of hexagonal
cross-section and sized to be received within said U-shaped cross-sections
of said first and second channel members and span substantially the entire
predetermined distance, said adapter being received between and abutting
said leg sections of said channel members and said adjacent stacking nut
members and being dimensioned so that the distance between two opposed
points on said hexagonal junction adapter is substantially equal to said
first length and the distance between any two opposed faces of said
hexagonal junction adapter is equal to said second length, and having a
fluid passage extending axially through the entire length of said adapter;
and
bolt members extending through said first and second channel members and
into engagement with said stacking nuts to cause said channel members to
bear against and capture said junction adapter between said channel
members and said adjacent stacking nut members,
said junction adapter being a one-piece member formed with cylindrical
collar portions and retaining shoulder portions on both axial sides of
said central support portion, said semi-cylindrical collar and retaining
shoulder portions being radially smaller than the central support section,
said collar being sized to span said diameter encompassed by said
semi-cylindrical collar portions, said retaining shoulder portions each
being disposed between a respective one of the collar portions and said
central support portion, with each retaining shoulder portion including a
radiused surface that abuts snugly against one of the radiused surfaces of
the collar support portions of the channel members such that the junction
adapter is more rigidly secured between the leg sections within the
clamping assembly against movement in an axial direction, and
said junction adapter also being formed with threaded connection portions
at each axial side of said collar portions opposite said central support
portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved junction adapter for use with
a conventional plural line clamping system in which the adapter has a
hexagonally shaped body and is formed from hexagonal bar stock.
Plural line clamping systems are widely used in the hydraulics industry
whenever it is necessary to connect plural fluid lines to a machine. Such
a clamping system provides a mounting device for holding the junction
adapters that connect the fluid lines from the machine to the fluid lines
heading to the source of fluid power. The plural line clamping system
provides a secure mount for fluid line junction adapters over a wide range
of fluid line pressures that resists the forces tending to cause the
junction adapter to shake loose or rattle. Plural line clamping systems
are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,397,431, 3,414,220, and 4,878,696, all
issued in the name of William R. Walker and assigned to the assignee of
present invention, namely, Hydro-Craft, Inc., of Rochester Hills, Mich.
These patents, which also show prior art junction adapters, are hereby
incorporated by reference.
Since their introduction, plural line clamping systems such as those
available from Hydro-Craft, Inc. and sold under the trademark
"MULTI-CLAMP", have become quite popular and are widely used in the
machine tool industry to route and secure hydraulic and pneumatic piping,
tubing and other lines in an orderly, neat and efficient manner. The
plural line clamping system in general provides a simple and sturdy mount
for the junction adapters and is widely used in almost any hydraulics
application where it is necessary to have plural fluid lines. There are
currently several tens of thousands of MULTI-CLAMP.RTM. installations in
use in the United States and other countries, and MULTI-CLAMP.RTM.
assemblies in several standard sizes have been sold for years by the
assignee.
The basic arrangement of a common plural line clamping system can be seen
from reviewing the above-cited patents or by reviewing the prior art FIGS.
1 and 2. As can be seen in FIG. 1, a metal plural line clamping assembly
20 in general includes a stamped U-shaped top channel 22 and an opposed
stamped U-shaped bottom channel 24. Of course, the channels could also be
disposed vertically, in which case there would be right and left channels.
The channels 22, 24 are formed with semi-cylindrical collars 26, 28 that
support prior art junction adapters 30 at cylindrical collar support
portions 32 formed on the junction adapter 30. It will be understood that
the assembly shown in FIG. 1 is for example only and that there could be
additional sets of semi-cylindrical collars 26, 28 further along the
channel members 22, 24. As can be seen from the prior patents, the plural
line clamping system 20 will typically have four to ten or more sets of
semi-cylindrical collars 26, 28 with each collar set being adapted to
mount a junction adapter 30. The prior art junction adapters 30 are formed
having a hexagonal body portion 34, cylindrical collar support portions
32, and cylindrical portions 36. As shown in FIG. 1, even though the
hexagonal body portions 34 within any one plural line clamping assembly
are the same over-all size and the collar support portions 32 are the same
size, the cylindrical portions 36 need not be the same size.
The hexagonal body portion 34 of each junction adapter 30 fits into the
U-shaped channels 22, 24 and acts as a central support portion. Between
the hexagonal body portion 34 and each cylindrical portion 36 is a collar
support portion 32. Each cylindrical portion 36 has a threaded portion 38
formed on its outer surface. The junction adapter 30 is formed from a
common piece of hexagonal bar stock. A fluid passage 40 passes through the
entire extent of the junction adapter 30 and acts to create a passageway
for fluid passing through lines sealingly connected to either cylindrical
portion 36 of the junction adapter 30 and running to a machine actuator
from a source of power, a control valve, or the like.
Cylindrical stacking nuts 42 having a predetermined length extend between
the channels 22, 24 to separate the channels 22, 24 and secure each
junction adapter 30 within the plural line clamping assembly 20, as is
explained more fully below. Bolts 44 extend through holes 46 formed in the
channels 22, 24 and are secured in screw thread holes 48 within the
stacking nuts 42, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to lock the channel members
22, 24 together and rigidly secure the junction adapters 30 within the
plural line clamping assembly 20.
The hexagonal body portion 34 of each prior art junction adapter 30 fits
within the plural line clamping assembly 20 between the channel members
22, 24 and stacking nuts 42. The junction adapter 30 forms line contacts
at locations 50 between two opposed edges of the hexagonal body portion 34
and the channel members 22, 24. In addition, there is plane contact with
the stacking nuts 42 along two opposed sides 52 of the hexagonal body
portion 34. Since the hexagonal body portion 34 of each prior art junction
adapter 30 has six equal faces or sides, an assembler merely needs to
place the junction adapter 30 into the channel members 22, 24 and insert
the bolts 44 into stacking nuts 42. Any two opposed sides 52 of the six
sides of the junction adapter 30 can be oriented along the stacking nuts
42.
However, it can be seen in FIG. 2 that the hexagonal body portion 34 of the
prior art hexagonal junction adapter 30 has an axial thickness T that is
less than the width W between the opposed interior side walls of the
channels 22, 24. Further, the cylindrical collar support portions 32 are
formed at right angles to the hexagonal body portion 34 as shown at
location 56. Therefore, a gap exists between the axial sides of the
hexagonal body portion 34 of the junction adapter 30 and the channels 22,
24 which, at extremely high fluid line pressures, may allow the junction
adapter 30 to shift its position within the clamping system 20.
The entire hexagonal junction adapter 30 of the prior art can be made out
of commonly available hexagonal bar stock using standard automatic screw
machines. Any suitable material can be used such as 1008 or 1010 mild
steel. Hexagonal bar stock is readily available in a variety of SAE
standard sizes that will correspond to the dimensions needed to have the
hexagonal body portion 34 of the junction adapter 30 fit into the various
sizes of channels 22, 24 of the plural line clamping systems 20. In other
words, it is not necessary to machine the exterior surfaces, that is the
sides 52, of the hexagonal body portion 34. For example, in making the
prior art junction adapter 30, the hexagonal bar stock is machined in
order to form the cylindrical collar support portions 32 and drilled ot to
form the fluid passage 40. A threaded portion 38 is then formed on the two
cylindrical portions 36.
Although the plural line clamping systems 20 shown in the prior patents
have been very successful, there are some limitations. That is, there is
an upper limit to the range of fluid line pressures over which the plural
line clamping system 20 can operate. In particular, fluid line systems
which have extremely high fluid line pressures may generate forces on the
junction adapter 30 which may tend to cause the junction adapter 30 to
shake or rattle in a plural line clamping system 20.
A necessary feature for any new plural line clamping system junction
adapter is that it must be a retrofit into the existing plural line
clamping systems. There are currently several tens of thousands of
MULTI-CLAMP.RTM. installations in service in the United States and other
countries, and each includes several collar pairs each supporting an
adapter. Also, the manufacturer of MULTI-CLAMP.RTM. assemblies, its
distributors and a number of their larger customers each maintain a
substantial inventory of MULTI-CLAMP.RTM. systems or assemblies. In
addition, conventional plural line clamping assemblies come in several
different standard sizes of channels, with each different size channel
requiring a different size body or central support section. To change the
dimensions of the conventional plural line clamping assemblies would
require tooling changes for each such size channel amounting to several
millions of dollars for each different size. Thus, any new adapter must
either fit into the existing plural line clamping assemblies or it will
not be successful in the marketplace. It is not realistic to expect the
industry to replace completed design or existing plural line clamping
assemblies just in order to accommodate a new improved junction adapter.
In light of the foregoing discussion, it is a principal object of the
present invention to provide a high quality one-piece junction adapter for
use within a conventional plural line clamping system that improves the
performance of the clamping system by enabling the clamping system to
increase the upper limit on the range of fluid line pressures over which
it may be successfully used. In particular, it is an important object to
provide a junction adapter for a plural line clamping system that provides
greater resistance to the forces resulting from extremely high fluid line
pressures which tend to shake or rattle the junction adapter and thereby
cause noise or further vibrations in the plural line clamping system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing objects are achieved by an improved one-piece hexagonal
junction adapter of the present invention. This improved junction adapter
is designed for use in a conventional plural line clamping system that
generally comprises two opposed U-shaped channels having semi-cylindrical
collar portions for supporting the junction adapters and stacking nuts
which are disposed between the channels and help secure and separate
adjacent junction adapters. The axial thickness of the hexagonal body
portion of the junction adapter of the present invention is equal to the
distance (i.e., for width) between the opposed interior side walls of the
U-shaped channels and the diameter of the cylindrical collar support
portions equals the diameter encompassed by opposed semi-cylindrical
collar portions of the channels. Further, the junction adapter is provided
with two retaining shoulder portions, each located between the body
portion and one cylindrical collar support portion and which each conform
to a corresponding radiused surface present for years on the inside edge
of the semi-cylindrical collar portions of the channels. These features
enable the junction adapter to fit more securely within the plural line
clamping system and provide greater resistance to any movement which might
otherwise be caused by the forces resulting from extremely high fluid line
pressures. As previously noted, such forces, if sufficiently high, tend to
shake or rattle the junction adapter. This improvement to the construction
of the junction adapter allows the clamping system to increase the upper
limit on the range of fluid line pressures over which it may successfully
operate.
These and other features and objects of the present invention can be best
understood when read in conjunction with the attached specification and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a conventional
plural line clamping system or assembly for clamping up two prior art
junction adapters shown therewith.
FIG. 2 is a cross-section along line 2--2 through the plural line clamping
system shown in FIG. 1, when it is assembled, illustrating the placement
of one of the prior art junction adapters in the plural line clamping
system.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the junction adapter
of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the junction adapter of the present
invention, shown in cross-section along line 3--3 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the
junction adapter of the present invention within the plural line clamping
assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention can be understood upon consideration of FIGS. 3, 4
and 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the present invention is a junction adapter 60
that generally comprises a hexagonal central support portion 62, two
cylindrical collar support portions 64, one on each axial side of the
central support portion 62, and two cylindrical threaded connection
portions 66, each disposed next to the collar portions 64 on the sides
thereof opposite of the central support portion 62. In addition, the
junction adapter 60 includes two retaining shoulder portions 68, each one
located between the central support portion 62 and one of the cylindrical
collar support portions 64.
As shown in FIG. 4, the junction adapter 60 has, reading left to right, a
first threaded connection portion 66, a first collar support portion 64, a
first retaining shoulder portion 68, the central support portion 62, a
second retaining shoulder portion 68, a second collar support portion 64,
and a second threaded connection portion 66. Male threads are shown formed
at locations 70 and are an integral part of the threaded connection
portions 66 and a fluid passage 72 extends through the entire axial extent
of the adapter member 60. All six sides 74 of the central support portion
62 of the hexagonal junction adapter 60 are of equal size and each
intermediate angle between adjacent sides 74 is also equal.
As best shown in FIG. 5, the junction adapter 60 is designed to be and is
snugly captured within the plural line clamping assembly 20 between the
two channel members 22, 24 and adjacent stacking nuts 42. The hexagonal
central support portion may be sized as shown to form line contacts with
the channel members 22, 24 and plane contacts with the stacking nuts 42
along opposed sides of the central support portion 62 as was described
earlier. The axial thickness T' of the central support portion 62 is equal
to the width W which is the distance between the opposed interior side
walls of the "U" formed by each of the channel members 22, 24. Given this
snug fit, the channel members 22, 24 act to securely constrain the
junction adapter 60 in the axial direction when the junction adapter 60 is
installed in the clamping system 20. It is to be understood that the
central support portion 62 of the junction adapter 60 is not only captured
at all four locations as described above, but also that the channel
members form plane contacts at locations 76 with the central support
portion 62.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the diameter D1 of each collar support portion 64
is equal to the diameter D2 encompassed by the opposed semi-cylindrical
collar portions 26, 28 formed in the channels 22, 24, as is also found in
the earlier line clamping systems from the assignee or the present
invention. However, unlike the earlier line clamping systems, junction
adapter 60 also includes two retaining shoulder portions 68. Each portion
68 is designed to abut the radius formed in the channel members 22, 24
about their semi-cylindrical collar portions 26, 28 as shown at locations
78 when the junction adapter 60 is installed in the clamping system 20. In
other words, each shoulder portion 68 includes a radiused surface which is
complementary to and snugly fits against the adjoining radiused surface,
which has long been included on the channels 22, 24. For the Hydro-Craft
Multi-Clamp HC-10 series junction adapter, the radius of the retaining
shoulder portion is preferably about 0.080 inch.
The junction adapter 60 of the present invention can be made out of
commonly available hexagonal bar stock using standard automatic screw
machines. Any suitable material can be used such as 1008 or 1010 mild
steel. Hexagonal bar stock is readily available in a variety of SAE
standard sizes that will correspond to the dimensions needed to have the
central support section 62 of the junction adapter 60 fit into the various
sizes of channels 22, 24 of the plural line clamping systems 20. In other
words, it is not necessary to machine the exterior flat surfaces, that is
the sides 74, of the central support portion 62. The junction adapter 60
is formed by first turning the hexagonal bar stock to remove material so
as to leave the cylindrical collar support portions 64 and the retaining
shoulder portions 68. The bar stock is then turned to remove additional
material in the area of the threaded connection portions 66. Threads are
then formed at locations 70 of the threaded connection portions 66 and the
fluid passage 72 is bored or drilled out.
Further details as to the techniques used to machine the junction adapter
60 need not be given here, since they would be readily apparent to any one
of ordinary skill in automatic screw machine art. Once the junction
adapter 60 has been completely formed, it is then preferably
cadmium-plated or zinc-plated for corrosion protection, using well-known
plating techniques. By these methods, a one-piece junction adapter of the
present invention is economically obtained.
Only one working embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed.
However, a worker in the art would realize that a number of modifications
may be made and would still be within the scope of this invention. For
example, two alternative embodiments are disclosed in commonly assigned
U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,696, in FIGS. 3A and 6A thereof, which include
hexagonal portions on the sides of the cylindrical collar support portions
opposite the central support portion of junction adapters. These same type
of the hexagonal portions could be employed with hexagonal junction
adapter 60 of the present invention. In addition, any combination of
conventional or suitable male or female threads could be used on the
threaded connection portions 66 of the junction adapter 60, 37 degree or
45 degree flared fitting connection may also be used. Further, the type of
connection means used are not limited to threaded connectors but could
include any other style of connector presently known or later developed,
as may be required or desired to connect up the fluid lines. The intended
scope of the present invention can best be understood by consideration of
the appended claims, including all fair equivalents thereof.
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